Journal box assembly



Oct. 27, 1942. F. coucH JOURNAL Box ASSEMBLY Filed April 28, 1941 I I I l l L l N u 5/?17/7 F 65am? Patented Oct. 27, 1942 Glenn F. Couch, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The symingtont- Gould Corporation, Rochester, N.. Y.,.a. corporation of Maryland Application April 28, 1941, Serial No. 3210;841' 6 Cla-ims.- (01.308-47).

The invention relates to a journal box assembly for use with a railway vehicle and more particularly to a lid construction for closing an access opening thereof.

An object of the invention is the provision of a compound or two-piece lid for a journal box with a portion thereof det'achably associated with the journal box and another portion thereof operably or pivotally associated therewith.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a journal box, of a removable auxiliary lid closing the lower portion of an access opening and a movably or pivotally attached lid closing the upper portion of the opening.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the succeeding description, considered together with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates, in several views, an exemplified form of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a journal box assembly embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the assembly taken along the lines- 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawing'wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, the journal box I, only a portion of which is shown, is formedby-anupper or top-wall 2 spaced vertically from and substantially parallel with a bottom or lower wall 3, both of which are joined integrally adjacent corresponding edges by vertically directed side walls 4. The bottom wall is desirably horizontally disposed throughout its entire extent and thereby distinguishes the present journal box from those most common in use at the present writing in that a clear unrestricted access or front opening 5 is presented for the introduction into the cellar or lower portion of the journal box of an axle or journal lubricating means (not shown) of a self-enclosed unit type.

The access opening is closed by movable lids so that lubricating means'may be insertedin or removed from the journal box and also forthepurpose of inspection of the elements housed within the journal box. box is designed primarily to accommodate a unit type axle lubricating means the cover is desirably made of 'a plurality of parts, and by reason of this construction the unit may be moved horizontally or'longitudinally of the axle upon appli- Since the illustrated journal cationto the journal box without disturbing any of the elements within the journal box. With particular emphasis upon keeping dirt or any foreign substance from the interior of the journal box whereby otherwise it may enter through the 'accessopening, there is provided a compound or two-part lid structure B'adapted to bear against a seat or face 1 of the journal box to present a leak-proof or dust-proof seal at the access opening. The lid structure comprises an auxiliary lid 8 formed by a plane plate Badapted to overlie the lower portion of the access opening; Means has been provided in the assembly to retain the auxiliary lid in operable position, and as exemplary of such a means the journal box side walls have, V

and downwardly from the journalbox, comprises topflange I2'norinally bearing upon the adjacent ear to supportthe auxiliary lid' or maintain it in a predetermined elevation anda back or rear flange l3 spaced'from the lug and coextensive with'a front extension l4 of the plate 53. The top and rear flanges of'each casing are connected to gether andto' the-plane plate by means of an end flange l 5'which forms a closure for the outer ex"- tremity of the casing. Means has been provided inthe construction'to prevent't'he auxiliary lid fromrattling-as well'as maintaining it in full bearing relation with the journal box face i to ensure the exclusion'of dust or any foreign particles from" the interior of tlrejdurnal box. As

exemplary of such a means a leaf or plate spring 16 is located within each housing and "has an arcuate. or curved'portion ll"positioned between and spaced from theasso'ciated' front extension l4" and rear'fiange [3 to be capable of being placed in intimate contact with the encased lug "l0 and, resiliently maintain the auxiliary lid in a predetermined fixed position; Each leaf spring has a shank 18' forming a' continuation of the 'curvedportion to lie against the" rear flange inwardly of' the casing. The shank terminates in a reentrant bend, clip or tab. l 9 whi'ch"curls about thelower extremity. of the rear" flange; Each plate spring has its shank apertured to accommodate a holding element or rivet which binds the spring to the rear flange.

From the foregoing, therefore, it will be noted that the auxiliary lid completely seals the lower portion of the access opening, and from its illustrated or applied position the auxiliary lid may be moved upwardly or elevated along the face or seat of the journal box until the lower extremity of the casing or housing has cleared the ears, at which time a horizontal movement of the auxiliary lid in a direction away from the journal box will result in the lid being completely disengaged from the box to expose the cellar thereof and permit the insertion, replacement or removal of the axle lubricating unit. A reversal of the above-enumerated steps will place the auxiliary lid in operable position.

The journal box assembly has included therein a lid proper 2| secured to the journal box through the medium of a horizontal pintle 22 carried by the top wall below a centralized upstanding lug 23 which is positioned adjacent the forward extremity of the top wall. The lid is adapted to be hinged or pivoted about the pintle to closed or opened position so as to complete the seal of the access opening or form a displaceable means for the inspection of the lubricating unit. The lid comprises a cover 24 adapted to completely overlie the upper portion of the access opening or the extent thereof not closed by the auxiliary lid.

Forming a sealed juncture between the auxiliary lid and lid proper is an inwardly offset lip 25 extending upwardly from the plate 9 and being positioned within the confines of the journal box to have an outersurface 26 thereof in the plane of the seat or face 1 to telescope the lower extremity of the lid and form an adequate bearing area therefor. The lower extremity of the lid terminates in a downwardly extending, outwardly offset skirt or drip rail 21 which overlies the associated extremity of the auxiliary lid and forms a protective ledge whereby any foreign substance, such as dirt, water or like impurities, being directed against the lid and flow.- ing downwardly therefrom may pass over the auxiliary lid juncture and continue across the auxiliary lid to be deposited along the right of way. The drip rail is convoluted or outwardly bulged adjacent its central portion, as at 28, to thereby form a hand hold or gripping means to facilitate primarily the opening of the lid while it may also be employed for closing the lid. The side and top edges of the lid are provided with a substantially continuous flange 29 which telescopes the forward extremity of the journal box walls to form side protective means in directing foreign substance away from the lid and face juncture.

Forming a direct connection between the journal box and lid is a hood 3!! having an upper extremity 3i journaled on the pintle and a lower extremity 32 presenting outwardly facing spaced cup-shaped or cylindrical bearings 33 lying on each side of and adjacent a block or prong 34 outstanding from the central portion of the cover. The prong has an elongated aperture 35 accommodating a horizontally disposed pin or shaft 35, there being merely a line contact between the prong and shaft with sufiicient clearance about the latter toafford an articulated movement of the lid relative to the journal box and auxiliary lid. The extremities of the shaft are caged or'cradled in the hood bearings so as to be capable of urging the shaft outwardly of the journal box into engagement with the prong. A resilient means is included in the arrangement of parts to maintain the lid in tight or sealing engagement with the face 1 of the journal box, and to carry out this function a torsion spring 31 is positioned between the hood and cover. The torsion spring comprises dual coils 38 in intimate contact with the hood intermediate its vertical limits and a central coil connecting or intermediate arm 39 directed upwardly toward and reacting against the journal box lug. Rotatably associated with the intermediate arm is a roller element 40 in engagement with the journal box lug to facilitate a substantially free movement of the intermediate arm relative to the lug during an opening or closing movement of the lid. The outer or free extremities of the coil merge into downwardly directed end arms 4| which lie substantially parallel with the outer face of the cover, spaced therefrom, and terminate in angularly disposed, horizontally directed fingers 42 nestled between correspondingly formed ribs 43 on the cover which maintain the end arms in fixed position. The fingers are coaxial with the shaft 36 so that the cover may pivot freely thereabout while in service.

From the foregoing recitals, considered together with the accompanying drawing, it will be noted that various changes and alterations I may be made to the illustrated and described construction without departing from within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a journal box of the type having connected top, side and bottom walls defining an access opening therebetween, the combination of lugs outstanding from said side walls, an auxiliary lid closing the lower portion of said access opening and being provided with housings receiving said lugs, means associated with said housings and reacting against said lugs for maintaining said auxiliary lid in a predetermined position, and a lidpivotally connected to said top wall adapted to close the upper portion of said access opening and overlapping said auxiliary lid.

2. In a journal box of the type having connected top, side and. bottom walls defining an access opening therebetween, the combination of lugs outstanding from said side walls, an auxiliary lid closing the lower portion of said access opening, housings in telescoping relation with said box and formed integrally with said auxiliary lid, said housings being adapted to receive said lugs for the support of said auxiliary lid, spring means secured .to said housings and bearing against said lugs, a lid pivotally connected to said top wall and closing the upper portion of said access opening, and a skirt on said lid overlying the juncture between-said lids.

3.,In a journal box of the type having connected top, side and bottom walls defining an access opening therebetween, the combination of arms'outstanding from each side wall, an auxiliary lidclosing the lower portion of said access opening, inwardly and downwardly opening housings on said auxiliary. lid accommodating said arms, a lidpivotally connectedto said top wall and closing the upper portion of said access opening, and alip formed on'said: auxiilary lid and underlying a lower extremity of said lid.

4. In a journal box of the type having connected top, side and bottom wallscdefining an access opening therebetween, the combination of arms outstanding from each side wall, an auxiliary lid closing the lower portion of said access opening, inwardly and downwardly opening housings on said auxiliary lid accommodating said arms, spring means secured to said auxiliary lid reacting against said lugs, a lid pivotally connected to said top wall and closing the upper portion of said access opening, and a lip formed on said auxiliary lid and underlying a lower extremity of said lid.

5. In a journal box of the type having connected top, side and bottom walls defining an access opening therebetween, the combination of arms outstanding from each side wall, an auxiliary lid closing the lower portion of said access opening, inwardly and downwardly opening housings on said auxiliary lid accommodating said arms, spring means secured to said auxiliary lid reacting against said lugs, a lid pivotally connected to said top wall and closing the upper portion of said access opening, a lip formed on said auxiliary lid and underlying a lower extremity of said lid, and means formed integral with said lid overlying the juncture between said lid and auxiliary lid.

6. In a journal box of the type having connected top, side and bottom walls defining an access opening therebetween, the combination of means outstanding from said side Walls, an auxiliary lid closing the lower portion of said access opening and being provided with means interlocked with said outstanding means, means associated with said auxiliary lid means and reacting against said first named means for maintaining said auxiliary lid in a predetermined position, and a lid pivotally connected to said top wall adapted to close the upper portion of 

